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Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Pyramid Quilt

When I am not reading fantastic quilting blogs, I am often drooling over the pages of Anthropologie or Pottery Barn.  Recently, both have had some amazing quilts for sale.  But if you don't have the extra $550 for a quilt - how about making your own?
anthropologie
   
anthropologie
This Pyramid Quilt {my name} is very similar to the Lark Quilt I made.  The Lark Quilt consists of equilateral triangles sewn together to create large diamond units.  This quilt is sewn in much the same manner except it is sectioned into horizontal units.
If you look carefully the solids are grouped into horizontal segments, blue - green- gray/green- green, etc.

 I thought I would do a couple of tutorials to make a very similar quilt.  I have a few special quilts I need to make for future gift giving, and this is a great design.....so why not?
I chose several shot cottons for my solids and then some prints for the printed triangles....
       
As I mentioned, these pyramids are equilateral triangles and I used the Fons and Porter 60 degree ruler to make my triangles.  With this specialty ruler I am able to choose the size of my triangles.  Of course, the smaller the triangle the more triangles you will need.
    
For my quilt, I am going to cut a strip of solid fabric and a strip of patterned fabric - 2 1/2 inches wide from selvedge to selvedge.

For each section there is one solid but several different prints ....so I cut my printed fabric strips in half {you could even cut the strip into quarters} so I don't have too many of one particular print with my solid fabric.  I want lots of variety in the prints.
  
 The first section I will be working on is this bottom blue color.  
I take the blue 2 1/2 inch strip and a print 2 1/2 inch strip - right sides together - using a quarter inch seam allowance stitch both long sides of these strips together.
     
Starting at the left side of the strip, line up the 60 degree ruler so the bottom is even with the bottom of the stitched strip and the pointy top is even with the top of the strip.  And make a cut on the right side of the ruler. 



Now just flip the ruler so the previous cut lines up with the left side of the ruler and cut along the right side.  Continue in this manner, flipping and cutting.  If you had a directional fabric, some of them will be upside down so that is something to consider when selecting fabric.



Unpick the pointy end of the triangle...this is just a few stitches.  Open and press toward the dark fabric and trim off the dog ears.

    
For each section {I am thinking of a section as the area that has the same solid triangle color} I need triangles sewn in this manner {solids and prints}, some 2 1/2 triangle prints only and some 2 1/2 triangle solids only.


The number of triangles I need depends on the size of the quilt as well as the size of the strips I am using. 
Piecing the sections together is done on the diagonal rather than in rows, which is the more common way to piece a quilt together.


For this section I decided to do 3 rows of the solid triangles.  For each diagonal line of triangles I will piece together two of the stitched solid and prints and then add one solid at the top and one print at the bottom.
Let's break this down...
Take two of these units....


Place them right sides together like this....the solid of the top unit will sit on top of the print of the other unit and the edges will meet up nicely {if the dog ears have been trimmed}.  Stitch using a quarter inch seam allowance.


Open and press...


Add a single solid to the top and a single print to the bottom....


When I have enough of these strips together to cover the desired width...these can be pieced together.
Be sure to match up seams because we want the tip of the solid to just meet the tip of the print once they are all together.  I sometimes use my finger to hold at the seam about 1/4 inch in and flip the top section over to check and make sure I have the points where I want them.  Also you will notice that the line of stitching will intersect the point where the triangles meet.




Continue to build the section in this manner.  Next I will show how to straighten up the sides.
Happy Wednesday!
mary

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Deck the Lights!

With the help of a little retail therapy....I found the materials I needed to create a new swag...


When I wandered into Anthropologie a week or so ago....a young girl greeted me and asked if I was there to splurge on myself....well let me tell you, either that was a brilliant marketing ploy or I am just a easy target {could very well be}, but that is all she had to whisper in my ear.  Before she was out of sight I was filling my oversized basket with lots of goodies!


So with some felt balls and some wool roping I braided and stitched a little swag for my kitchen light....
Every Christmas I decorate my tin light with evergreen garland and bows, but this year I thought I would change things up a bit....

   
I simply braided the roping and attached the felt balls with perle cotton....


Change is good!
And the weather is dreary, wet and cold...so some holiday stitching does wonders for the attitude :)


Happy Tuesday!
mary:)

Monday, November 28, 2011

Thanksgiving Blitz

Wow! Thanksgiving was fun and full of family....I had 14 for dinner....

  
Lots of food and lots of fun!!!
Then we had Black Friday and lots of fun at the shoppe....
and finally on Sunday I was able to get back to a bit of sewing....


I am sure I am not alone with Christmas projects to work on...


A little sewing and a little hand stitching.  My goal is to try to post daily and keep the momentum going....soooooooo
Back to work :)
Hope you had a wonderful Turkey Day!!!!
mary

Monday, November 21, 2011

M. E. R. R. Y.

I must be in denial....I have a million things to do....
But for a good part of yesterday I was playing with letters....


I used wool felt and perle cotton....


To create a Merry Christmas bunting for my fireplace....
I was inspired by a bunting at Anthropologie...


Okay....I need to focus on preparations for Thursday....
Happy Monday!


mary :)

Thursday, November 17, 2011

**Sigh**

Remember a while back Susan and I asked for your input on favorite bits of fabric....

Well, now Basic Grey has found the perfect way to display bits of fabric ....

Introducing the sampler....


I think I may need a couple of these, but luckily we have them in stock at Sew To Speak...


This is such a busy time of year...Thanksgiving at my house this time round...
so I have been a busy bee....whew!
Happy Thursday!
mary

Monday, November 14, 2011

Details.....

When I was a teaching Elementary students, I would have a series of activities to accompany the books we were reading.  Activities that took the students back into the literature to re-examine the character, more fully understand the plot and focus on the details.

It was evident that a good author and a well written book would spawn a wealth of opportunities to explore the story further.


I have come to believe that a great fabric designer and a fantastic line of fabric can have the same effect.  Amy Butler is one of those designers.  She gives us fabrics that are complex and have depth.  Not just pretty fabrics, but fabrics with great dimension.

When I began my Lark quilt I knew it should reflect Amy's inspiration for the line, Maxime de la Falaise.  My initial design idea was strong angles along the lines of a Harlequin pattern.  A coexisting inspiration for this quilt was this very bohemian piece.  It seemed to fit the spirit of the fabric and story behind the fabric.


  
Lark is a series of large diamonds comprised of equilateral triangles.

  
The setting triangles are peaks of this rich Berry Couture.  It is hand quilted with perle cotton.  The center is quilted with diamonds to echo the diamonds in the quilt.  The setting triangles and the side {half diamonds} are quilted with a series of lines....pulling your eye downward to my favorite detail.


In the spirit of this bohemian quilt, I added small touches of fabric stuffed and pulled tight with perle cotton. 

They dance along the bottom and top edge....
I think this uniquely reflects the unfettered nature of Lark.

And the back is a plethora of Amy fabrics from my stash....

I must say, it has truly been a pleasure to develop this quilt and to be completely lost in the fabric.....thanks Amy!

       
Happy Monday!
mary :)

Friday, November 11, 2011

Quilt Story!

Well, one day it seems like the world is falling apart....and then the next the sun is shining and all is right with the world!

I am so extremely fortunate to be featured on Quilt Story this fabulous Veteran's Day!

Fresh Poppy Design


And I am so thrilled that sweet Megan and Heather chose to feature the quilt I made for Baby Harrison :)

I met Baby Harrison for the first time earlier this week.  What a precious little guy and of course his mom, Lora, doesn't even look like she had a baby or even a bit dazed by the whole ordeal. I am certain a couple of weeks after having a baby, I was not fit for human eyes!!!

A perfect footnote to this Quilt Story....
Thanks for the lovely words, Megan and Heather....I am feeling very loved :)
Happy Friday and Veteran's Day!  Thank you to all our Veteran's for their service to our country....thank you, thank you!
mary      

Thursday, November 10, 2011

When It Rains....It Pours.....

Just about a week and a half ago the youngest daughter was stranded at school....fuel pump went out......$800.00!
A few weeks before that the middle daughter had a repair {can't remember now what} that was $150.00 and I felt happy!
Now looks like the same daughter is going to need a new transmission....ugh....I don't even want to know the price tag on that....
Then this morning I threw some laundry in the dryer and.....nothing....nothing....no heat, no air, no tumble....nothing.  Ugh!

But on a happy note....
I am almost finished quilting Lark...

       
And I think I may just have enough of the red moon dot in my stash for the binding....I am sure the discretionary funds don't include fabric purchases now....for Pete's Sake!!!


And I will leave you with one other lovely shot....this is Jenny and her sweet Coin Quilt!  Jenny is one of my most favorite people ever!!!  I love her use of color....what a great quilt :)



I truly hope your day is free from stress {and car repairs}....it is almost the weekend after all!
Happy Thursday!
mary

Monday, November 7, 2011

The Christmas Rush.....

Are you starting to feel it?  The clock ticking as the hours and days click down to the big gift giving season....
Gift giving is even better when the gifts are homemade...
from the heart....


A few tiny scraps of fabric....


A plastic ornament form and some Modge Podge....


And there you have a scrappy ornament!

Or maybe your gifts will include those of a quilty nature...

  
A new old block will be stitched into something perfect for a special friend....

And here is something I found helps with all those seams coming together in one area.

Press seams open...


And where several seams come together, for instance, to join the two halves of a block...
clip at the intersection....
Press the little checkerboard intersection open and the other seams in opposite directions.

  
This helps reduce bulk in the seams.  I have found this results in a nice flat block...so give it a try!

     
And Happy Monday Sewing!

mary